Alert Pravin gets chatty

Karthikeya / TNN / May 6, 2006, 01:33 IST

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Pravin Mahajan's mental condition is a matter of debate, but going by his three appearances in court, he seems alert and sharp.

MUMBAI: Pravin Mahajan's mental condition is a matter of debate, but going by his three appearances in court, he seems alert and sharp.
In fact, there has been a marked change in his demeanour since his first appearance in court on April 23��a day after he shot his brother, BJP leader Pramod Mahajan��till his most recent remand hearing on Wednesday, when he was finally sent to judicial custody.
The first time Pravin was brought to court; he looked tired, spoke very little and barely smiled. He merely nodded when the magistrate asked if all was well in police custody.
He remained quiet throughout the court proceedings and finally, when he was being taken back, asked police officials not to put the hood on him as it was too hot.

Pravin started speaking at his second remand hearing on April 29, asking the magistrate to order the police to return his car to his family in Thane.
He still looked tired and sported a French beard, but now listened to the arguments in court intently. He also asked that newspapers be given to him in the lock-up as he had been "completely cut off from the world".
Even as the prosecutor said that the court should note that Pravin spoke in "chaste English", showing no signs of insanity while asking for his car, the accused asked for the newspapers and added, "This time I am pleading in Marathi," for good measure.

Most recently, on Wednesday, Pravin was at his chatty best. He even exchanged words with the public prosecutor, mistakenly saying, "Pravin is battling for his life in hospital," and then quickly pointed out, "I am fine and standing right here."
He even took a dig at the police when he told the court that he had "not been asked a single question since Saturday". "It seems the police department is in love with me and wants to keep me with them," he chuckled.
While the magistrate was reading the order, Pravin smiled and said a word or two to the investigating officer standing beside him and gestured to some friends who were standing at the back of the court.
Once it was clear that Pravin would be in judicial custody, his advocate Nandkumar Rajurkar said that he would not get his "favourite brand", referring to his cigarettes, in jail.
"I have given up on life. I would give up these bad habits too," Pravin said philosophically.
Pravin even informed Rajurkar that he would never give a confession in front of a magistrate. "Not in this life," he said firmly.

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